Experts offer up tips for making loyalty programs work well

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Restaurants often make these common mistakes when it comes to customer loyalty programs.

Panera launches 1st ‘Panera To Go’ digital-only café

June 10, 2022

Panera Bread's first Panera To Go, a digital-only café focused on off premise dining, is up and running in Chicago.

Killer Burger opens 19th location

June 10, 2022

Portland-based Killer Burger opened its 19th location this week in Wilsonville, Oregon.

Starbucks may flip bathroom policy due to public mental health issues

June 10, 2022

After four years of opening its once-closed bathroom facilities to the public, Starbucks is considering reversing the policy, citing increasing mental health…

Slutty Vegan partners with Beyond Meat

June 10, 2022

Slutty Vegan, an Atlanta-based burger joint offering 100% vegan comfort food from Founder Pinky Cole, has teamed up with Beyond Meat to introduce a non-GMO…

Wing It On co-founder takes on CMO role

June 10, 2022

Connecticut-based Wing It On co-Founder Justin Egan is now the brand's CMO and head of restaurant technology.

Chipotle teams with Tractor Beverage Co. for Watermelon Limeade

June 9, 2022

Chipotle Mexican Grill has released its first seasonal beverage, Watermelon Limeade, as an LTO at all restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, with 5% of profits…

Rave Restaurant Group promotes Mike Burns to EVP, COO

June 9, 2022

Rave Restaurant Group, parent company of Pizza Inn and Pie Five Pizza, has announced the promotion of Mike Burns to executive vice presidents and chief…

How Mici co-founder invented tool to simplify kitchen operations

Jeff Miceli, the co-founder of Mici Italian, explains how they designed a pizza press to simplify the process of creating artisanal pies.

Slim Chickens nesting in North Dakota

June 9, 2022

Fayetteville, Arkansas-based Slim Chickens is opening at 3118 3rd Ave. W, in North Dakota, its second location in the state.

Noodles & Co entering Nevada

June 9, 2022

Noodles & Co entered Nevada last week in Sahara Rancho, Las Vegas, and plans to open two to four more locations next year in Las Vegas.

Ghost Financial begins educational program for ghost kitchen operators

June 8, 2022

Ghost Financial, a financing and business services platform for ghost kitchen operators, has announced the launch of its online learning and community platform…

Delivery available via Cafe Rio app

June 8, 2022

On the heels of its introduction of curbside pick-up, Cafe Rio Mexican Grill has launched a systemwide tech feature that enables customers to place delivery…

Biggby launches made-to-order energy drinks

June 8, 2022

Biggby Coffee, a nearly 300-unit unit franchise, is launching customizable, made-to-order energy drinks. The line includes Blood Moon (blood orange and mango)…

Taïm Mediterranean Kitchen opening in New Jersey

June 8, 2022

Taïm Mediterranean Kitchen, a New York City-born fast casual restaurant, is opening its first New Jersey restaurant. The store will be located in the Princeton…

Tropical Smoothie upgrades loyalty program

June 7, 2022

Free sips and bites await Tropical Smoothie Cafe guests with the company's Tropic Rewards loyalty program and upgraded mobile app. Guests who join the Tropic…

Big Chicken elevates Marci Rude to VP of Development

June 7, 2022

Big Chicken, a concept founded by Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, which was just named No. 25 on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers & Shakers list, has elevated…

Peet's going all in with going green

June 6, 2022

Peet's Coffee, which has 270 locations in the U.S and China, confirmed Monday that 100% of its purchases are responsibly sourced per standards created by…

Dig hires COO

June 6, 2022

DIG, a vegetable-centric, multi-format restaurant group, has hired Tracy Kim as COO. Most recently, she was CEO of Aaptiv, a fitness mobile app, where she…

Daddy's Chicken signs 20-unit agreement

June 6, 2022

Just four years after its 2018 inception, Daddy's Chicken Shack has signed a 20-unit deal with restaurant operators Blair Salisbury and Robin Bieker, for its…